Ahead of tonight’s Raw going on the air, WWE announced that The Hurt Business (MVP, United States Champion Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) will face RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-Bar, Mace & Slapjack) in an eight-man tag match tonight. AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle and Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus have also been added to the show.
Ali was revealed as the leader of RETRIBUTION on Raw two weeks ago. It had been announced that last week’s Raw would feature Ali speaking for the first time since that reveal, but the segment ended up not taking place.
Styles, Riddle, Kingston, and Sheamus all moved over to Raw in the WWE Draft after formerly being on SmackDown.
Kingston & Xavier Woods are now the Raw Tag Team Champions after swapping title belts with The Street Profits. With Kingston & Woods moving to Raw and Big E staying on SmackDown, The New Day had their farewell match on SmackDown last Friday and defeated Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro.
Tonight’s Raw is also the brand’s go-home show for Hell in a Cell and will feature the final build to WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton’s Hell in a Cell match.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s show:
Keith Lee vs. Braun Strowman
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defends against Lana
Elias concert
Bray Wyatt hosts a Firefly Fun House segment
The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) vs. RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-Bar, Mace & Slapjack)
The men’s WWE Tag Team title situation regarding both sets of champions was made clear in a segment tonight on Raw.
During tonight’s show, WWE official Adam Pearce met with Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods, the SmackDown Tag Team champions who were drafted to Raw, and The Street Profits, Raw Tag Team champions who were drafted to SmackDown. Pearce said he cleared it with WWE and the solution to the problem was to exchange titles — The Street Profits would be recognized as the SmackDown Tag Team champions and vice versa. The two teams agreed, and the switch was made.
The New Day were drafted during the first night of the draft on SmackDown this past Friday. Both Kingston and Woods returned that night, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro to win the SmackDown Tag team titles. However, it was announced immediately after that title match that Kingston and Woods were being drafted to Raw, while Big E would stay SmackDown, splitting the trio apart for the first time since 2014.
After being a trio for six years, The New Day will be going their separate ways.
It comes as Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods not only returned to action on tonight’s SmackDown, but won the brand’s Tag Team titles, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro. The former champions had held the titles for 82 days, defeating Big E and Kofi Kingston on April 17.
After the match, Stephanie McMahon came out and announced that the new champions would be moving to Raw. However, Big E was selected next for SmackDown, effectively splitting the New Day. All three members, who were still in the ring when the announcement was made, looked dejected.
It was later announced that a New Day farewell match would take place on next week’s SmackDown, with the trio facing Sheamus, Cesaro, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
The New Day have been a trio since 2014, winning the Raw Tag Team titles two times and the SmackDown Tag Team titles seven times.
The New Day are once again the SmackDown Tag Team champions.
Tonight’s match, a triple threat singles match featuring Big E, Jey Uso and champion The Miz ended when Miz put the figure four on Jey Uso. Big E broke up the submission attempt by grabbing Miz, lifting him up and pinning him after landing the Big Ending.
With this win, The New Day are now eight time Tag Team champions. The most Tag Team title wins within the WWE are The Dudley Boyz, who are nine time champions.
The triple threat match was similar to a ladder match held at WrestleMania 36, when Kofi Kingston, Jimmy Uso and John Morrison faced off in a ladder match after The Miz was unable to compete. Morrison retained the titles for his team.
The Miz and John Morrison held the titles for 50 days, defeating The New Day at Super ShowDown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 27.
Ahead of night one of the show airing, WWE has confirmed that The Miz isn’t wrestling on WrestleMania 36.
It was officially announced on today’s edition of WWE’s The Bump that Miz is off this year’s WrestleMania. With Miz out of the show, the SmackDown Tag Team titles will be on the line in a triple threat ladder match between John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, and Jimmy Uso.
It was said that the match will be part of night one of WrestleMania 36 tonight.
Miz & Morrison defending their titles in a triple threat ladder match against The New Day and The Usos was originally planned for WrestleMania. In storyline,the explanation given during today’s announcement was that Miz is out of the match due to being injured during a brawl on SmackDown last night.
It’s been known since March 27 that Miz didn’t wrestle at WWE’s tapings for WrestleMania. Dave Meltzer reported that Miz showed up to the tapings sick and ended up being flagged from performing.
No one in WWE has tested positive for coronavirus.
WrestleMania 36 airs across two nights tonight and tomorrow. Both nights will have pre-shows starting at 6 p.m. Eastern time. The main cards will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern.
The Miz & John Morrison are getting a SmackDown Tag Team title shot when WWE returns to Saudi Arabia next month.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) will defend their titles against Miz & Morrison at Super ShowDown on Thursday, February 27. Miz & Morrison were set up as New Day’s challengers by defeating The Revival, The Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado), and Heavy Machinery in a fatal four-way number one contender’s match on SmackDown tonight.
After The Miz gave Scott Dawson the Skull Crushing Finale, Morrison pinned him with Starship Pain. The Revival had hit a double-team superplex/splash combo on Dorado, but Miz tagged himself in during it.
Tonight was the first time Miz & Morrison have teamed together since Morrison’s return. They’ve been feuding with New Day since Morrison came back to WWE television earlier this month.
This is the first match announced for Super ShowDown. The show is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and will air live on the WWE Network starting at noon Eastern time.
Kingston revealed on the show that he “just” signed a five-year deal with WWE. He mentioned the new contract during a discussion with Big E and Xavier Woods about injuries and how they affect their daily lives.
Kingston & Big E are the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions, while Woods is out of action after undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered at a WWE house show in October.
Kingston & Big E won the titles from The Revival on SmackDown last month and retained them against The Revival in a ladder match at TLC last night.
This year saw Kingston hold the WWE Championship for six months. He won the title from Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 and was champion until dropping it to Brock Lesnar on SmackDown’s FOX premiere.
F4W NEWSLETTER: NXT’s Survivor Series involvement Joseph Currier looks at how WWE featured NXT at Survivor Series and in the build to the PPV.
Even with how forced the battle for brand supremacy can admittedly be, Survivor Series is one of the bright spots on the WWE calendar.
The PPV has given us some of the main roster’s best matches in recent years. Last year, we got Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan and Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (filling in for the injured Becky Lynch). In 2017, Lesnar faced AJ Styles. Those matches wouldn’t have happened without the brand vs. brand concept. And while there would ideally be more substantive stakes involved, the brands facing off has given some life to the traditional Survivor Series elimination tag matches.
The added involvement of NXT this year only improved things. The battle of the brands would have been even more forced without their inclusion. Viewers can believe that NXT really wants to prove that it’s better than Raw or SmackDown. It’s much harder to suspend your disbelief and buy into Raw and SmackDown’s wrestlers being undyingly loyal to their brand just weeks after a draft.
Coverage of Survivor Series weekend and five shows in six nights in Chicago, as well as the business, polls and more, heads this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We look at the directions things are going, how DVR viewership affects all the major shows, the decision on match order, what Vince McMahon was doing during the Survivor Seres main event, the next two major shows as well as Survivor Series and Takeover with full coverage and star ratings for every match.
The issue also covers:
The myth of NXT as developmental, World’s Collide, the next Takeover, the mention of Britt Baker on the air and more.
The tragic death of Aniah Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris.
Changes in the UFC drug policy, regarding levels, what drugs are low levels now allowed, what UFC is encouraging fighters to do as far as supplements, .
The situation with Corey Graves and Mauro Ranallo, what happened, why Graves should have been more careful, and where things stand.
Jim Cornette’s apology, how his departure from the NWA took place, more of the background as to why Cornette was castigated for things that nobody would have batted an eye about had others said and why, what NWA wanted to do with him and why their hand was forced.
C.M. Punk signing with FOX, Vince McMahon’s thoughts on Seth Rollins pushing the Punk match, TV ratings in Canada and overseas, WWE get awarded, legend selling home, Oney Lorcan talks future, Mike Bennett talks wanting to leave, Injury updates in WWE, WWE market value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network, plus notes on the house shows.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
Additional notes by Joseph Currier
WWE
WWE Backstage tonight will have an interview with Seth Rollins, as well as Green Arrow star Stephen Amell. CM Punk noted on Twitter that he would not be on tonight’s show, but may be in next week.
PWInsider reported that WWE Network will not be adding Hidden Gems content weekly going forward.
Leaders in Orlando, Florida have made bids to host SummerSlam and Survivor Series in the near future.
A new WWE Day of documentary, which will cover this year’s Survivor Series, will air on the WWE Network this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
WWE’s “WrestleMania’s Legendary Moments” special will air on the USA Network after NXT tomorrow night. The special is narrated by John Cena and first aired on FOX.
NXT’s Brendan Vink (Elliot Sexton) has been added to EVOLVE 141 in Livonia on Friday and EVOLVE 142 in Chicago on Saturday. He’ll face Colby Corino at the Livonia show.
Rey Horus and Nicole Savoy will make their ROH debuts at the promotion’s post-Final Battle TV tapings in Philadelphia on December 15. Horus will face Flip Gordon, while Savoy will face Sumie Sakai. Marty Scurll & PCO vs. Jeff Cobb & Dan Maff, Alex Shelley vs. Jonathan Gresham, and Tracy Williams vs. Tyler Bateman have also been added.
A number one contender’s bout between Corey Anderson and Jan Blachowicz is in the works to headline UFC Fight Night on February 15. The winner would likely face Jon Jones for the Light Heavyweight title.
The New Day will be featured on the second series announced for WWE’s Podcast Network.
On today’s episode of After the Bell with Corey Graves, it was revealed that “The New Day: Feel the Power” will premiere on Monday, December 2. The show will be hosted by Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods, with new episodes airing weekly.
The description for the show says: “Every week, ya boys will be telling personal stories from in and outside the ring and engaging in passionate debates on some of their favorite topics, including sports, video games, music and more. Nothing is off limits, from Booty O’s to pancakes to everything in between. New episodes will be available weekly, so don’t you dare be sour. Hit that sweet, sweet subscribe button, and feel the POWERRR!”
Kingston & Big E are the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Woods is out of action after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in October.
Kingston & Big E will face Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders and NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish in a non-title match at Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view.
WWE announced in August that they were partnering with Endeavor Audio to launch an official podcast network. Graves’ After the Bell podcast debuted on October 30.
Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship reign ended with one F-5 on tonight’s SmackDown on FOX premiere.
In the main event of tonight’s SmackDown, Brock Lesnar won the WWE title by defeating Kingston in seconds. There was then an angle where former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez made his WWE debut, coming out with Rey Mysterio to get revenge on Lesnar for Lesnar attacking Rey and Dominik on this week’s Raw.
Prior to losing the title to Lesnar, Kingston had held the WWE Championship since winning it from Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 this April.
Tonight was the first time Lesnar has wrestled on weekly WWE television since 2004.
Lesnar becoming WWE Champion comes in advance of the WWE Draft starting next week. It will begin on next Friday’s SmackDown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The draft will then continue on the Monday, October 14 edition of Raw at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
Friday Night SmackDown debuts on the FOX network from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California tonight. WWE will celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary with a loaded lineup.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns to the blue brand after announcing on Twitter earlier this week that he’d be appearing on the debut show.
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defends his title against Brock Lesnar. Lesnar challenged Kingston a few weeks ago and delivered a massive F-5 after Kingston accepted.
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair take on SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks. Last week, Banks and Bayley beat down Flair until Lynch made the save.
Kevin Owens faces Shane McMahon in a ladder match where both of their careers are on the line. McMahon agreed to the match if Owens would drop his $25 million wrongful termination lawsuit. Roman Reigns also goes one-on-one with Erick Rowan. That comes in advance of Reigns & Daniel Bryan taking on Rowan & Luke Harper at Hell in a Cell this Sunday night.
Plus, appearances by Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Lita, Mick Foley, Booker T, Hulk Hogan, Trish Stratus, Goldberg, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Mark Henry, Ric Flair, and Sting.
The “blue carpet” special begins on FOX at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, with SmackDown starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.
**********
Kick-Off Show
The kick-off show started at FOX Studios, with Becky Lynch getting a tour and included appearances by Michael Strahan and Terry Bradshaw.
Charissa Thompson’s outside the Staples Center on the blue carpet. Thompson spoke with Charlotte and Ric Flair.
In the Staples Center, hosts Renee Young and Booker T spoke with Big E and Xavier Woods. They revealed the new set, which is pretty awesome looking. The set includes a new ramp and entrance. It also consists of a giant screen above the entranceway.
They showed several FOX celebs and WWE Personalities on the blue carpet.
SmackDown
Vince and Stephanie McMahon walked out onto the ramp to start SmackDown. The fans gave them a big pop and sang Vince’s theme music. They welcomed the fans to FOX and Friday Night SmackDown.
SmackDown has a brand new theme song and opening credit.
Raw Woman’s Champion Becky Lynch made her way down to the ring. The fans broke into a huge “Becky” chant.
Lynch noted SmackDown has a special place in her heart. She’s happy to be the first to start SmackDown on FOX. She first broke through the glass ceiling on SmackDown.
King Baron Corbin interrupted, and Lynch threatened Corbin. Corbin feels he should be the first person to start SmackDown on FOX
Suddenly, The Rock’s music hit, and the Staples Center erupted. Rock made his way down to the ring. Rock and Lynch faced off but then did a special handshake. The fans broke into a massive “Rocky” chant.
Rock noted he once told a jabroni that he was going to lay the SmackDown, and then it became a show. Rock did his classic catchphrases and said that he has finally come back home. He called Corbin Burger King, and the fans broke into a “Burger King” chant.
Rock mocked Cobrin for dressing like a 35-year-old virgin at comic con. Rock noted Lynch calls herself The Man, but she’s doesn’t walk around with giant testicles. Lynch interjected they’d still be bigger than Corbin’s. The fans broke into a “Becky” chant.
Corbin got in Lynch and Rock’s face. Lynch and The Rock worked together and beat down Corbin. Rock then gave Corbin the People’s Elbow and Rock Bottom to a huge pop. The fans broke into another “Rocky” chant.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves are handling the commentary.
Raw Woman’s Champion Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair defeated SmackDown Woman’s Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks
Flair jumped Bayley to start the match and had the early advantage. Flair went up for a moonsault, but Bayley shoved her off to the floor.
Back from break, Flair fought off Bayley, and Lynch got the hot tag. Lynch ran wild and hit a leg drop off the second turnbuckle on Bayley for near fall. Flair hit Natural Selection on Bayley for another near fall.
All four women start brawling in the ring. Lynch caught Banks with a missile dropkick and sent Banks to the floor.
Flair then hit a massive moonsault off the top to the floor and locked on the Figure Eight on Bayley for the win.
Erin Andrews interviewed WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E. Kingston promised to overcome the odds and defeat Lesnar.
They showed Tyson Fury, Kurt Angle and Mick Foley sitting at ringside.
Seth Rollins made his way to the ring for his match when Bray Wyatt’s The Firefly Funhouse interrupted. Ramblin Rabbit was wearing a Rollins t-shirt and warned him not to get in Hell in a Cell with The Fiend. Mercy The Buzzard killed Ramblin Rabbit as a preview for Hell in a Cell.
The match ended without a winner. Nakamura went for the armbar for the quick win. Rollins fought back and gained the advantage.
Suddenly, the lights went out. When the lights came back on, Nakamura was in the ring alone, and Rollins was on the stage at the entrance.
The Fiend attacked Rollins from behind and applied the mandible claw. He then threw Rollins off the stage.
Kevin Owens defeated Shane McMahon in a Loser is Fired Ladder Match
The match felt somewhat rushed. Owens and McMahon fought up the ramp to start the match. Owens tossed a ladder at McMahon, but he ducked, and the ladder went flying. Owens tried bringing in a ladder, but McMahon hit a sliding dropkick into the ladder.
McMahon hit Owens with a ladder to the back and placed him on the announce table. McMahon then hit an elbow off the top turnbuckle on to Owens, who was still on the table.
Back from the break, Owens was back in control and hit a frog splash off the top turnbuckle on to McMahon, who was on a ladder between the apron and barricade.
Owens climbed the ladder, but McMahon cut him off with a chair. McMahon placed a ladder across Owens’s face and hit the coast-to-coast. Graves pushed the idea that McMahon’s landing took a lot out of him.
McMahon climbed the ladder, but Owens power bombed McMahon onto another ladder. Owens then climbed up the ladder and grabbed the briefcase for the win.
After the match, Owens grabbed a mic and fired McMahon. He then hit the stunner on McMahon.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Paul Heyman in the back. They recapped Brock Lesnar attacking Rey Mysterio and his son Dominic. Heyman said it’s not a prediction but a spoiler that Lesnar’s going to win the WWE Championship.
Braun Strowman, The Miz & Heavy Machinery defeated AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Ziggler had an early advantage, but Miz hit a DDT and tagged Strowman. Strowman scored a near fall, but Roode broke it up. Everyone came in a hit a big move, and they all ended up at ringside.
Strowman then ran around ringside, running down the heels. Strowman and Tyson Fury went face to face. Strowman taunted Fury. Ziggler jumped Strowman, but Strowman regained control. Strowman then tossed Ziggler into Fury.
Fury wasn’t happy about this and stood up. Strowman then hit a slam on Ziggler for the win.
After the match, Fury jumped the barricade, and a massive amount of security stopped him from entering. Strowman stood in the ring, smiling. This was a pretty good angle that got a big reaction from the fans.
Roman Reigns defeated Erick Rowan in a Lumberjack Match
The lumberjacks included Ricochet, Andrade, The Viking Raiders, and The Revival. Daniel Bryan joined Graves and Cole on commentary.
Rowan had the early advantage and scored a near fall. Back from the break, Rowan was firmly in control. Reigns fought back and hit a Samoan drop for a close near fall. Reigns went for the Superman Punch, but Rowan caught him.
Luke Harper made his way down to ringside, and Bryan attacked him. All the lumberjacks brawled, and Reigns hit a massive dive onto all the lumberjacks. Rowan then power bombed Ali into Reigns.
Reigns fought back and had the match won when Harper broke up the pin. Graves noted there are no disqualifications in a lumberjack match. Bryan nailed Harper with the running knee. Rowan attempted the Iron Claw, but Reigns hit the spear for the win.
Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) defeated Kofi Kingston to win the WWE Championship
Kingston sent Xavier Woods and Big E to the back. This was a very short match. Kingston charged Lesnar, but he picked him up in the F-5 for the quick win to become the new WWE Champion.
After the match, Rey Mysterio’s music hit, but he walked out with Cain Velazquez. Mysterio had his arm in a sling selling the attack from Monday. Cole noted that Velazquez defeated Lesnar for the UFC Championship. Velazquez walked to the ring. Lesnar charged at him, but Velazquez took him down. Lesnar ran out of the ring up the ramp.
Lesnar teased entering the ring but walked off instead. Mysterio and Velazquez posed in the ring. This was another good angle involving an outsider and was a good ending to an excellent FOX premiere.
WWE has made their first match and segment announcements for tomorrow’s SmackDown.
Charlotte Flair & Carmella will team up against SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks on the episode. WWE is also hyping that Daniel Bryan has agreed to meet with Roman Reigns to “clear the air” between them, and there will be a sit-down interview with WWE Champion Kofi Kingston ahead of his title defense against Brock Lesnar on SmackDown’s FOX premiere.
Carmella saved Charlotte from a two-on-one attack by Bayley and Banks on SmackDown last week. Charlotte had defeated Banks by disqualification prior to that, with Bayley attacking Charlotte as she had Banks in the figure four.
Bryan and Reigns were both laid out by Erick Rowan and Luke Harper last week. Bryan & Reigns are expected to face Rowan & Harper in a tag match at Hell in a Cell on October 6.
Lesnar appeared on SmackDown last Tuesday, challenged Kingston to a title match on the SmackDown on FOX debut, and laid Kingston out with an F-5. The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California is hosting SmackDown’s FOX premiere on Friday, October 4. The theme of the show is SmackDown’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Tomorrow’s SmackDown is the show’s final episode on USA Network.
Image: Adam Pearce. Report submitted by Sean Tomlinson from Sunday’s SmackDown house show in Honolulu, Hawaii.
– Kevin Owens defeated Andrade
Owens won with a stunner. Andrade tried to sneak attack Owens after the match but ended up on the receiving end of a second stunner.
– SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) defeated The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) to retain their titles
New Day hit the Midnight Hour on Dawson after the match.
– Carmella defeated Sonya Deville (w/ Mandy Rose)
Carmella won via submission with the Cone of Silence.
– Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Sami Zayn) defeated Ali to retain his title
Nakamura retained with the Kinshasa.
After Nakamura won, Zayn taunted the crowd and mentioned that he felt so good he would issue an open challenge. Roman Reigns answered the challenge.
– Roman Reigns defeated Sami Zayn
This wasn’t a squash match. Reigns won after hitting a spear. He had arguably the loudest pop of the night.
– Chad Gable defeated EC3
R-Truth was the special guest ring announcer. Gable won by submission with the ankle lock.
When R-Truth and Gable were celebrating, EC3 rolled up Truth for the three count to win the 24/7 Championship. They both ran to the back and then EC3 ran back out to the ring. Truth followed and was able to regain the 24/7 title with some help from Gable.
– SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley defeated Charlotte Flair in a Honolulu Street Fight to retain her title
Solid match that saw a kendo stick, a chair, and a table used. Charlotte went for a spear, but Bayley sidestepped and sent Charlotte head-first into the turnbuckle. Bayley quickly covered Charlotte for the win.
Charlotte put Bayley through a table after the match with a senton from the top rope.
– WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defeated Daniel Bryan to retain his title
Kingston retained by hitting Trouble in Paradise. Bryan was doing his trademark running corner dropkicks when Kingston was able to hit the move as Bryan was attempting a third dropkick.
Though SmackDown followed up on Clash of Champions and started building to Hell in a Cell last night, the most noteworthy thing on the episode was an announcement regarding the show’s upcoming move to FOX.
Brock Lesnar will challenge for Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship on SmackDown’s FOX debut. It’s taking place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Friday, October 4, and the theme of the episode is SmackDown’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Lesnar and Paul Heyman made a surprise appearance on last night’s SmackDown after The New Day (Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods) defeated Randy Orton & The Revival in a six-man tag match. After Kingston accepted Lesnar’s challenge, Lesnar laid him out with the F5.
This will be Lesnar’s first match on weekly WWE television since 2004.
Brock Lesnar is getting a title shot on SmackDown’s FOX debut.
After The New Day defeated Randy Orton & The Revival in a six-man tag match on SmackDown tonight, Lesnar returned to WWE television for the first time since SummerSlam. Paul Heyman told Kofi Kingston that Lesnar had officially issued a challenge for Kingston’s WWE Championship on Friday, October 4, the first episode of SmackDown on FOX. Kingston accepted, but was jumped by Lesnar, eventually being laid out with the F5.
This will be Lesnar’s first match on weekly WWE television since 2004. Since returning to the company in 2012, he’s wrestled on pay-per-views, WWE Network specials, and house shows.
WWE is set to make their FOX debut on October 4 a big event. The theme of the episode is SmackDown’s 20th anniversary celebration. Kurt Angle, Lita, Mick Foley, Booker T, Hulk Hogan, Trish Stratus, Goldberg, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Mark Henry, Ric Flair, and Sting are also advertised to appear.
SmackDown’s second episode on FOX will be on October 11. That will be the start of the WWE Draft, which will then conclude on Raw on October 14. The Wildcard Rule will no longer exist after the draft.
